In 1990, the House Ethics Committee determined that accusations that Savage behaved improperly ("fondled", according to The Washington Post, 19 July 1989) towards a Peace Corps worker in Zaire were likely true, though no action was taken after Savage wrote an apology. The Congressman was defeated in 1992 primary by Mel Reynolds, blaming his loss on the "white racist press and the racist, reactionary Jewish misleaders."